Hello
to all members,
Welcome
to BIHA alert # 42. (Issued
There
are some very important issues raised in this alert, which affect the whole
industry.
Contents:
1)
Accident
on a bouncy castle (
2)
“Toy”
Bouncy castles.
3)
Announcement
of a new PL insurance company.
4)
New
FAQ section on the BIHA website.
5)
When
was the term “Bouncy castle” first used?
6)
Second
hand inflatables & equipment for sale.
7)
G
8)
Wanted
to purchase.
9)
Change
of name for “Bargain Bouncers”.
10) Questions from members to
members.
11) Amusing comments from
customers.
12) How to get onto the industry message
board. www.biha.org.uk/messages.htm
13) Please ensure you have the BIHA
password.
14) Making the BIHA website more “user friendly”
for the general public.
15) The BIHA urgently needs more
1) Bouncy
Castle Accident
On
It
was a very windy day, and apparently the
operator only used TWO stakes to anchor the castle to the ground. As a result, the strong wind overturned the
castle with children playing on it and several of these children had to be taken
to hospital. The HSE are investigating
this incident.
I
would like to remind all
You
can read the newspaper report of this accident at the following
link:
http://www.expressandstar.com/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi?archive=27&num=75694
2) “Toy” bouncy castles and
Inflatables.
Some
operators are still hiring out “toy” bouncy castles NOT suitable for commercial
hiring. (only for light private domestic use).
How
can you tell if it is a “toy” bouncy castle or inflatable??
There
are at least eight “tell tale”
indicators:
1) The fabric will be made from thin nylon
material similar to a child’s anorak.
2) The blower will be very small – not much
bigger than a hair-dryer.
3) There will probably be no stitching holding
the seams together (They are usually welded together at the
factory).
4) Generally these “toy” inflatables will be
smaller than 12ft x 12ft.
5) They are extremely lightweight.
6) Some of them have netting around them, where
normally the walls would be.
7) The price of these units is very low, around
£70 to £200.
8) Some ma
Please
note that these “toy” inflatables can be dangerous if hired out to the
public. They are simply not robust
enough. If any of the welding or nylon
should split, a child may have an accident.
The BIHA is appalled that some operators are even hiring out “toy”
inflatable slides which are around 10ft high to the platform. If the “welding” gave way at the top of the
slide, a child could fall to the ground.
DO
NOT HIRE OUT THESE “TOY” INFLATABLES.
THEY ARE COMPLETELY UNSUITABLE FOR THE
HIR
If
any BIHA member has any “toy” inflatables advertised on their website for hire – please remove
them.
If
you are unsure about who to buy your inflatables from – look at the list of
manufacturers on www.biha.org.uk They
all build inflatables which are suitable for the hire
market.
(Please
note that some manufacturers use rip-stock nylon for their inflatables, and also
netting around the walls or pillars, which are suitable for the commercial hire
market).
If
in doubt always contact the manufacturer.
Duplay,
who are one of the largest manufacturers of “toy” play inflatables say on their
website that their units are only suitable for the domestic market. See:
www.duplay.co.uk and
in particular:
http://www.duplay.co.uk/about_us.phtml
Which
states:-
"SPECIALISTS IN NON HIRE NON COMMERCIAL
PRODUCTS FOR PRIVATE DOMESTIC USE ONLY".
3) Announcement of a new PL Insurance
Company
I have recently received a phone
call & email from Cynthia Speight of Rockford Insurance Brokers Limited
informing me of a new PL insurance underwriter (E.R.I.C) in our industry. (They
also provide Employers' Liability Cover, and PLI for either £1M, £2M or
£5M).
Please see below her email sent to
me on
Currently, this now means that there
are 3 main insurance providers offering PL cover: FML, Leisureinsure and now
E.R.I.C.
If you contact
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear
Mark,
Further to our telephone
conversation today, Rockford Insurance Brokers are delighted to announce their
new exclusive facility for Legal Liability Insurance for owners and hirers of
inflatable playgoods.
ERIC is a new Insurance Company
formed in
All Insurance Companies Authorised
to underwrite business in the
Rockford Insurance Brokers are
Authorised and Regulated by The Financial Ser
Competitive rates apply and written
quotations available on request.
I hope you will find the above to be
of interest to your membership and look forward to working with you in the
future.
Kind
regards
Cynthia
Speight
Rockford Insurance Brokers
Limited.
0113
2592013
cynthia.speight@rockfordgroup.co.uk
4) New FAQ section on the BIHA
website.
If you have visited the
BIHA website recently, you will have noticed that a brand new section has just
been put up - An FAQ Page (Frequently
Asked Questions). Please visit: www.biha.org.uk/faq.htm
If you can think of any
other questions which have been missed out – please email me at: mark.jerram@ntlworld.com
. Thanks….
5)
When was the term “Bouncy
castle” first used?
According
to the Daily Mail (
6) Second-hand inflatables & equipment for
sale.
Please see below the
latest second-hand inflatables being sold by
FOR
1 X Winnie Poo 12 x
14ft Bouncer with rain covers £700
1 X Bob & Thomas 12
x14ft Bouncer with rain covers £700
1 x Incredible Hulk
Combination Slide Bouncer with rain covers £850
1x Standard 12x14ft
Bouncer no rain cover £600
Including .75
fans
1 x 13ft x 26ft Party
Marquee
1 Set of Lights
1 x Floor
£400
1 x Disco Ball
£20
90 pvc patio chairs
£3.5 each
10 pvc tables £15
each
2
G
2
G
4 x Bubble machines
£15 each
visit www.gph-entertainments.co.uk.castles.php
Luke
Quinn
GPH Entertainments Ltd
07901
882816
FOR
Mega slide 25ft
platform height good condition approx 2 years old complete with blowers
bargain £2750 contact Dave, Bounceabout. 020 8524 1244. (
FOR
2 x 14ft x
12ft Roofed Bouncy Castles – Less than one year
old
1 x 19ft x
11ft x 9ft Bouncy Slide – again less than one year
old
Includes 3
x
Only hired
out about 20/25 times in total last year, originally supplied
by
Day
£500 each
or £1300 the lot!!
Church
Stretton,
Telephone
Doug on 07715 404189 or 01694 724661.
FOR
Hire
Company for
Due to the
purchase of Bargain Bouncers of Leicester, Abbots Bouncy Castle Hire is selling
up to concentrate on this new project.
I have 18
units from 8’ x 10’ upto 15’x 23’ (two of these that then make one long run of
46’).
All are
manufactured by Bargain Bouncers now known as
JumpJump.Ltd
None are
older than 4 years, 40% are less than 2 years old. Books to show all profits
over the last 6 years.
The sale
includes the following:
One
Transit LWB - Company sign written
Nissan
Vanette Cargo - 28,000 on clock with sign writing
Ifor
Williams trailer to house two 23’ jungle runs
8 x 8
Inflated Ball pit 3 year old
8x10
Cow 4 years old
9 x 12
Giraffe Slide 3 yrs old
10 x 12
Girraffe 2 years old
10 x 12
Tiger 4 years old
12 x 12
Jolly roger 3 years old
12 x12
Boxing 2 years old
12 x 12
Cbeebies June built (new)
12 x 17
clown step n slide 2 years old
12 x 17
Rainbow step n slide 1 year old
12 x 15
Fairy 3 years old
12 x 15
Super heros May built (new)
15 x 15
Dino 3 years
13 x 17
Tom n’ jerry (LIW Gold Mine design) June built
(new)
18 x 18
Adult/childs June built (new)
15 x 23
Jungle Run 3 years
15 x 23
Jungle Run 3 years
12 x 20
Clown Slide 3 years
Profits of
30k per year April 2003 – 2004. Jan – Dec 2003 546units hired
Jan – Dec 2004 575 unit hired
Books for
April 2004- 2005 being prepared
All
previous books available to see. All customers have booking forms which are also
available to see. This year already has a 40%
growth.
21k for
castles
9k for
vehicles and trailer
Free
domain names
55k for
business.
Total
£85K
01162
606632
FOR
20' x 23' Bumpa Bouncer manufactured by Supabounce of
Hinkley. The castle is in excellent condition and has only had light use. It is completely ready for immediate
commercial use. Viewing welcome and recommended. It is for sale at £950 complete
with the two blowers (0.375 KW each) also in excellent condition, and ground
fixing kit (six stakes and ties). My mobile number is 07779 565716 and email
address is fuggled@hotmail.com. All questions/enquiries
welcome.
FOR
Hello Mark, We have a 15 X 15 arched childrens’ castle
for sale with blower & shower cover @ £750 ono, surplus to our requirements.
Artwork is animals giraffes etc.Could you include this in the next newletter,
thank you, Howard Simpson.
Cosmic Castles, email; enquiries@midlandgames.co.uk or Tel: 01902 883299.
7) GIANT SLIDE
WANTED FOR TV COMMERCIAL
I recently received the following email from
Dear
Mark
>
> I work for
a film production company and am looking to hire a large
> inflatable
slide for a commercial we are going to make. I have been
> looking at
the internet for what seems like days trying to find one
> big
enough. I
> have
attached a picture of the sort of slide I am looking for as it
has
>
to
> be wide
enough for 8 people to go down at once. I'm not sure if you
can
> help, but
if there is any chance you know of any companies that do
this
>
type
> of slide
it would be a great help.
>
> Any
>
>
Regards
>
>
>
>
>
Outsider
> 2nd
Floor
> 41-42
Foley St
>
> W1W
7TS
>
>
tex@outsider.tv
>
textravi@btconnect.com
>
> t: +44 (0)207 636
6666
> m: +44 (0)7950 918
673
> f: +44 (0)207 323
0242
8) WANTED TO PURCHASE
We are looking for a set of laser sport laser clays with
trap and 5 guns, the indoor shoot equipment would be a bonus but not essential,
Only equipment in exceptional condition would be considered, if anyone has a
system for sale please let me know. We have no desperate hurry for them and
could even wait until the winter ready for next season in order for you to
complete this year’s work. Any details please e-mail ben@bigfunuk.com many
thanks
Ben
9) Change of name for Bargain
Bouncers.
Melanie
Johnston, a major hirer for 7 years in the Watford/South East corner decided to
buy the Company Bargain Bouncers from Anthony Brookes.
Anthony
has grown this family run business for 15 years and is a well respected
manufacturer. He felt that it was time to take his family and emigrate to
Melanie
Johnston who had never brought from anyone else and who over the years met with
many other Company products decided that this standard and manufacturing was the
best around. She says “Bargain Bouncers were manufacturing units that would
last as long as I was in the hire business for, in fact I only sell my units on
now (from the hire side) to make a fresh look every season”.
“I am
aware of the heavy schedule in the summer for hirers and so therefore
manufacture the same quality as Anthony (18oz pvc with nylon integrated) with
now easy to deflate standard side zips on all units. Light materials
(flame retardant) are used for the internal structure (ties) to give lighter but
still heavy duty feel to the units, which will roll up smaller. Nylon is now
incorporated to the 20’+ slide to make them lighter. PVC is still used in the
areas that need it.
I would
never have brought a Company I didn’t believe in, I’m sure all of Bargain
Bouncer’s customers agree. All the usual members of staff are still here
including Anthony’s sister Linda. We have also taken on a new artist formally
from Jumbo who left due to the Company moving premises in Thurmaston. Her work
is exceptional.
I feel
this is as important as the quality of the unit itself, end users always go on
the final look of a unit, of course, if it looks nice it must be
good.
It’s been
two months since I took over from Anthony and talk about busy. I was expected
to ease into my new change of scenery, as a Christmas take-over was expected but
lawyers don’t rush these things! I have the LIW to concentrate on this month.
We will create a unit that’s manageable, visually different to the end users
(that’s what it all about) and economical but the usual high standard of
quality.
New units
are continually updated on our new web site at www.jumpjump.co.uk
where you will find prices under every
unit.
10)
Questions from members to members.
Dear
Mark, Have you come across the following
problem. When we run our rodeo bull off 240 volts(house hold) electric we have
plenty of power with no problems, but when we run off a 5 kva 240 volt generator
we seem to be short of power ,have any of our members had this problem, I await your reply. thanks
Ruth.
If
anyone can help Ruth, please could you send me an email to: mark.jerram@ntlworld.com
Many thanks…
11) Amusing comments from
customers
a) Hi
One quote from a
customer when we were delivering a bouncy castle locally. We had just inflated
the castle and the customer requested us "to turn on the castle" we looked at
her blankly and asked what she meant, to which she stated "switch it on so it
bounces"!!!!! Dozzy or
what!!!
Sam and Rob - All
Occasions.
b)
I arrived at my
customers house at the agreed time of
Alan, Miles More Fun Limited, Somerset.
12)
How
to get onto the industry message board.
The
Message board is for people involved in the inflatable industry (e.g. operators,
inflatable manufacturers, manufacturers of accessories and insurance
companies). This
ser
Are you a member of
the message board for people involved in the inflatable industry? If not, you could be missing out on the most
topical and up-to-date discussions relating to the business. It is completely free to
- sharing ideas, hints,
tips and
- need an answer to a
question? - simply ask by posting a message and gain from a wealth of experience
from hirers, suppliers and manufacturers
- discuss the latest
issues that affect our industry, such as public liability insurance and the new
PIPA scheme
- receive automatic
emails so that you receive all new messages posted onto the message board
straight into your email inbox
- talk live in the chat
room with other message board members
Joining is simple and
free, and you don’t have to be a member of any organisation or association to
To
Once you have a
Microsoft .net passport, go to the website below and click on the “apply to
http://uk.msnusers.com/BritishInflatableHirersAssociation
Need further
13)
Please
ensure you have the BIHA password.
All
Please ensure that you
have this password, otherwise you will be missing out on a huge selection of
resources which should help you run a more successful and safer inflatable hire
business. Some of the things you will find in this “members only area” are over
40 news alerts similar to this one you are reading now. Also, about a dozen big newsletters e.g. www.biha.org.uk/newsletter24ryc Some free reports to show you little known
ways to increase your profits, and much much more.
If you have lost your
password – please email me at: mark.jerram@ntlworld.com putting “BIHA password reminder” in
the subject bar. Please could you also
include your name and address so that I can check your membership
status.
14)
Making
the BIHA website more “user friendly” for the general
public.
Currently, the BIHA
website is getting a large amount of hits from the general public looking to
hire an inflatable. The main reason for
this is that www.biha.org.uk is
ranked high up in www.google.com
especially for popular keywords
e.g. Bouncy castle hire
All members who have a
free listing on the BIHA site should benefit from this traffic, which in turn
should boost the rankings of their own websites.
As a result, I am keen
to make the BIHA website more “user friendly” for the public when visiting to
search for an operator in their area.
If anyone has any
ideas as to how this could be best achieved – please could you email me at: mark.jerram@ntlworld.com
Thanks..
15)
The
BIHA urgently needs more
If you would like to
include anything for the next BIHA newsletter / alert – please email me at: mark.jerram@ntlworld.com
The kind of
a)
News and developments within the
industry.
b)
Ideas, hints & tips to improve our
profits and safety.
c)
Real life hire stories (“Hirings from
Hell”)
d)
Second hand inflatables you wish to
sell (free to advertise).
e)
Wanted
equipment.
f)
Any other interesting and relevant
g)
Any questions you would like to ask the
other members.
Thanks for
reading. A big thank you to all the
members who contributed to this news alert.
Until the next
alert.
Mark
Mark
Jerram
Founder of
the British Inflatable Hirers Association (BIHA) www.biha.org.uk
Member of
the PIPA committee www.pipa.org.uk
www.biha.org.uk/news/alert34/index.html (Sample newsletter)
N.B. Please
accept our apologies if you havek
received this
message in error as it is not
our intention
to send e-mails to anyone who
does not want
to receive them. If you wish
to be removed
from this BIHA email list please reply
and let us
know, by writing “remove me” in the subject bar.
Thank
you.